THE PUPIL PERSONNEL WORKER

JACKIE NEIL-PPW

How can the Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) help schools, students, and families in Anne Arundel County Public Schools?

The Pupil Personnel Worker has a variety of responsibilities.  These include addressing issues in three main areas:

1. Attendance
2. Residency
3. Custody

PPWs work closely with school staff members, students, parents, and other members of the community. Through teamwork and collaboration, all students have the opportunity to be successful in school.       
Attendance
Regular attendance is extremely important for children to achieve academic, social, and emotional success.  A student who misses six or more days of school in a semester is considered excessively absent.  If absences become excessive, the following steps will be followed:

1. School staff members will conference with parents and students to discuss concerns. 
2. Students will be referred to the Attendance Committee if tardiness and/or absenteeism persist. 
3. If the school’s interventions are not successful, the student will be referred to the Pupil Personnel Worker for a more in-depth investigation.
4. The Pupil Personnel Worker will conduct conferences, make home visits, and refer cases to the Department of Juvenile Services, Project Attend and/or District Court as necessary.   

Residency

The Pupil Personnel Worker assists the principal, staff members, and parents in making sure that students are attending the school in the appropriate attendance area.  Some common residency issues that Pupil Personnel Workers assist with include:

1. Out of Area Transfers
2. Out of County Transfers
3. Out of County Enrollment
4. Homelessness
5. Shared Residencies

Custody
Pupil Personnel Workers also help school staff members and families answer questions regarding custodial concerns.  As issues arise, the PPW works with schools to get the information necessary to do what is in the best interest of the child and what is in accordance with the law.  Custody issues might include:

1. Court Ordered Custody
2. Kinship Cases
3. Hardship Cases